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Monday, July 29, 2013

Makeup Artist Starter Kit List

Work not by me, please let me know if you know the artist

I put together a list for a Makeup Artist kit, I share what you can purchase to start off with and what I currently use. Some products don't change much others do it's really all your prerogative but I hope this helps some of you curious about starting your own kit. If you want to see a list without the explanation scroll down to the end of the post to download your free PDF.

Makeup Case

The first thing you need is something to carry all your products, I prefer a case that is made of fabric and has wheels. The reason I don't like the hard cases is that with time they can get scratched. As a MUA often times you will be shooting on location and wheeling around your case all over your city. Anything can make a scratch on the hard cases from desk corners, to car doors, or any sharp furniture. When I first started I bought a $20 tool box from Wal Mart just to have something to carry my products in.

I currently use the Zuca and their backpack, I love how compact everything is

Makeup
Brushes

Makeup brushes are essential to creating a
makeup artist kit, I would recommend starting off with brushes that are
affordable and decent quality like the Sonia Kashuk line fromTarget.
She has some great brushes and actually I prefer some of them over my more
expensive brushes. It's important to have both synthetic brushes and naturalbrushes. This section of your kit is definitely one that will continue to
evolve as your experience grows, you will figure out what line of brushes you
like best. Other companies I recommend when you are first starting
out are E.L.F., Sigma Brushes, Crown Brushes,
and Real Techniques (Now
sold in some Wal-Marts). I would even say to check out your local arts and
crafts store and buy a few painters brushes to start off with.

Makeup
Remover Wipes

Makeup remover wipes are an absolute
necessity for your kit from cleaning your clients face to fixing your mistakes
or switching looks. I actually buy mine at Big Lots of all places! They sell
them at $2 for a pack of 60 wipes. Almost everyone that I use the cucumber
wipes on wants a pack to take home because the scent is really soothing. I
know they also carry these at the 99 cent stores too. It's all personal
preference here because you can find makeup wipes at CVS, Target, or even make
your own. I know Maurice Stein from Cinema Secrets buys the baby wipes
from Costco and simply puts them in containers for his kit, it's all preference
here. I also carry a container with liquid makeup remover for additional
support with stubborn makeup.

Brush
Cleaner

You can never have enough brush
cleaner! I always buy the large 32oz. cleaner from Cinema Secrets.
I have tried MAC, Monda Studio, Parisian, Baby shampoo, the CVS brand, and for
me nothing compares to the Cinema Secrets brush cleaner. Monda Studio has
similar packaging and is probably the closest to CS but it's definitely not the
same formula. I like CS brush cleaner for a few reasons, first of all it
doesn't only clean your brushes but it will also sanitize them which I
cannot stress the importance of a sanitized brush set. Secondly it cleans the
brushes really quick I don't have to leave them to dry for hours and this is
important when I am working on various clients like at a fashion show. I can
work quickly and rest assured I won't be passing pink eye or acne. Lastly if
you've ever had the chance to use this cleaner you know how good it smells,
I've had many clients ask me what that delicious scent that was. I
haven't had a person tell me they don't like it (yet!). Another reason I like
the scent is that I can tell which brushes are clean by taking a quick sniff. A
quick tip: I stock up on brush cleaner on Cyber Monday CS always does a 50% off
sale no code necessary.

Alcohol

Alcohol is used to disinfect product
and your materials, the FDA states that alcohol must be 70% or higher to kill
99.99% of bacteria. Most makeup artist keep their's in a spray bottle which
makes it easier to use. Make sure to label your bottle, you don't
want someone to accidentally use it for something else. Also I recommend using
99% Alcohol which you can find at your local beauty supply, I like it also
because it dries much faster than other percentage alcohols.

White
Makeup Cape

A cape is absolutely necessary to do
makeup, it keeps product off of your clients clothes. I know that there are
many colors and patterns to makeup capes but I always use a white one. I picked
up this tip from Cinema Secrets founder Maurice Stein he
is one of the original MUA's for Planet of the Apes (1969) and has over 50
years of experience, so he knows a thing or two. A white makeup cape will reflect accurate
light on your client's skin, a black cape may make the skin appear sallow and a patterned one
even worse. It's the best way to ensure you are applying correct makeup on your
client's skin.

Tweezers

Tweezers can assist you in shaping
the unruly hairs on your clients face. I also love using tweezers to apply fake
eyelashes. I swear by Tweezerman tweezers,
they may cost a bit more than your regular tweezers but you won't need to
invest in another pair for many years to come. They also come with a lifetime sharpening warranty.

Eyelash
Curler

The majority of the time I use fake eyelashes so I like to pre curl the lashes a little bit to mimic the curl of
the fake lashes. I also like to use the curler to fuse the fake and real lashes
together. Even for a natural lash look an eyelash curler can really help
open up the eyes. I love mine from Tweezerman or
these from Shu Uemura.

Cuticle
Scissors or Beard Trimming Scissors

I use scissors to help trim eyelashes, open new
products, and occasional tag cuttings. It's important to keep these sanitized
and dry to prevent rust. I usually buy them at the 99 cents store or my local beauty supply store.

This one's pretty self
explanatory and you can purchase one at any local beauty supply, Target,
Wal-Mart, or even 99 cent stores. Here are a few in a variety of round, oval, and square shapes.

Hand Sanitizer

Again self explanatory, sometimes
you will be on location in places where you will not have running water.
Sanitation of your kit and your client is very important. Always keep hand sanitizer near buy, you can buy at Target, Walmart,
Sally's, and even 99 cent stores.

Tissues

Tissues can be used to catch fall out, as
blotting paper, dry eyes and sneezing of course. I like to buy the ones that
come in a small pack. I usually buy them at the 99 cent store.

Q-Tips

Q-tips can be used to correct your mistakes,
to apply makeup, or to blend product. I love them because they are disposable and
help me maintain a sanitized kit. I always buy the travel pack and a large pack
to restock it.

Disposable
Applicators and Wedges

It's good to have a variety of
disposable applicators like disposable lipstick applicators, mascara wands are must haves, and makeup wedges or sponges. I usually buy mine from Beauty
Headquarters in Rosemead they import directly from China so their prices are
extremely competitive. You can generally find these at any local beauty
supply.

Cotton
Balls and Rounds

I use cotton balls to apply toner directly to the
face, the rounds I use to soak with anti inflammatory toner for puffy eyes, and
I use both to help store pressed powders for travel. I don't recommend skimping on cotton, get a name brand product. Inexpensive ones dissolve or pieces come off and get stuck on your clients face.

Powder
Puffs

Powder puffs are used to really set your
makeup job with powder and to touch up your clients throughout the photo shoot
or film. I buy them by the dozens at Nigels.

Cleanser,
Moisturizer, and Toner

Hopefully you are working somewhere
that you have running water so that your client may wash their face before and
after depending on the makeup style. The most important part of applying
your makeup is having the best canvas you can have. It's best to start with a
fresh and clean face. After removing makeup you must care for the skin by
applying toner and moisturizer. I usually carry Cetaphil (Target) for cleanser or Le
Mieux Phyto-Marine Cleansing Lotion. For moisturizer I also carry Cetaphil (Target), Aveeno (Target), or Le Mieux Essence Moisturizer. Toners I also like to carry Le Mieux Essence Toner. I usually buy my Le Mieux products from Nigel's to receive a discount. I carry these products in travel containers from CVS.

There's nothing less attractive than
yellowing or red eyes. I always make sure to add red eye drops before doing
makeup even on myself. Also it's good if you are on location and the weather is
windy or dry.

Foundations

It's important to have a good
variety of colors for foundations. As a makeup artist you must always be
prepared for your clients needs. You may have people from all over the globe in
your makeup chair. I always recommend artist to start off with a foundation
palette from RCMA or Graftobian. I started off with the RCMA Shinto Palette, again I purchased mine at Nigel's and
received 20% off the tag price. This palette has 18 colors but you will use
your spatula and palette to mix these colors together and you will always have
the exact color you need. Also you can get whatever coverage you need if you
need sheer coverage you can moisten a beauty blender with Fix+ and apply a sheer coverage or apply a
thicker coverage by using it alone. The price is great too, one palette will
cost $72 minus (20% off if you have a MUA discount) vs. most single foundations
cost about $30-$40ea. multiply that by 18 that's about $540-$1900.

It's good to have both loose and
pressed powders I would say 80% off all makeup artist start off with Ben Nye loose
powders, the banana powder is a cult favorite and considered the holy grail by
many makeup artist. I would recommend getting a neutral, fair, banana, and
topaz the prices range from $5-$7 for 1.75oz which is a good starting
point.

Another great product is MAC's Blot
powder to help prevent shine, photographers hate shine and
stray hairs because it means more editing time for them.

Blushes

Blush is another product that can be layered
to achieve the look you are trying to achieve. I recommend artist that are
starting out to purchase La Femme blush palettes. You can order a 12 blush
palette for $50 from Camera Ready
cosmetics. La Femme can typically be found at specialty
makeup stores like Nigels, Naimie's or Cinema Secrets. I also like using my matte
eyeshadows as bronzers or blushes, don't be afraid to give products multi
uses.

Eye shadow is an important part
of your kit, I would recommend not skimping on quality here. There's nothing
worse than having your eyeshadow disappear a few hours after application. I
would shop the sale section of companies like Tarte or Stila they
have a year round sale section on their website. You can score on eyeshadow
palettes that are 50% off sometimes more. Also some amazing palettes are
the Urban Decay Naked Palettes, the Lorac Pro Palettes, or Create your own from
companies like Inglot or Make Up For Ever. Personally I
have a 32 color MUFE palette, 12 color Stila Palette, and loose eyeshadows from
many different companies.

I feel incomplete without eyeliner,
for the most part you can get away with buying a mixing medium or
eyeliner mixing medium and dipping an angle brush into an eye shadow to create your
eyeliner of choice.

I use Red Cherry Lashes and Ardell I recommend having a mixture or both
strip and individual lashes. I usually buy mine by the dozen and have a variety
of short, medium and long. What may appear perfect to you may be too long for
your client not everyone is used to having fake eyelashes. Of course you can't
put on lashes without adhesive so invest in a good one, no one will hire you if
their lashes fall off halfway through their wedding ceremony. I recommend DUO eyelash glue you can find it at any
beauty supply, CVS, or Target.

Again just like foundation you can
carry about a dozen lipstick colors to start off and use your palette to mix
colors to create the one you want. I started off with 12 colors from NYX and a clear pill box until I was able to build up
to Kevyn Aucoin, Stila, Lip Tars, and Tarte.

Very similar to
my very first palette

If your interested in a premade
palette I would recommend the Graftobian Lip palette which will run you
$67.51 for 18 colors it's the same palette size as the foundations.

Lip liners you can get from NYX, Wet n'
Wild, or keep an eye out for makeup sales from high end companies they tend to
be on the less expensive side.

If all else fails and you can mix the color you need to customize colors. Always have a clear lip gloss you can mix with an eye shadow
to customize a lip gloss. I started off with lip glosses from NYX, ELF, and Wet
n' Wild.

(they are
thicker than regular paper towels I buy a box at Costco once a year)

IATSE Kit Requirements

This is the kit required by the IATSE to be a part of the Makeup Artist Union and to be approved to work on film. It will give you a good idea what to work towards if being a Union member or on set is part of your dreams.

This is not the makeup kit list for every single makeup artist, it is a general guideline. Go out and try different products and brands. Your kit is a reflection of what YOU represent as a makeup artist.

About Me

Welcome to How to Become a Makeup Artist

I'm Brandie - I'm a freelance makeup artist here in LA. I'm passionate about helping other makeup artist, beauty, and business. This blog is a place where I want to share all the things to help you succeed